Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-01-07

The second day comes and goes, so |
does the third and the fourth. the fifth |
and the sixth, and then the seventh |
dawns.
Florence Delmaine, who has been
kalf-distracted with conflicting fears
and emotions, and WHO has been sit
ting in her room apart from the others,
with her head bent down and resting
on her hands, suddenly raising her
ewes. sees Dora standing before her.
The widow is looking haggard and
hollow-eyed Ali her dainty freshness
has gone, and she now looks in years
what in reality she is, close on thirty
five. Her lips are pale and dropping,
her cheeks colorless; her whole air is
suggestive of deep depression, the re-
suit of sleepless nights and days filed
with grief and suspense of the most
poignant nature.
ALAS how well she loves him tool'
thinks Florence, contemplating her in
silence. Dora. advancing, lays her
hand upon the table near Florence, and
SAYS, in hurried impassioned tone
ooh, Florence. what has become of
him? What has been done to him? l
have tried to hide my terrible anxiety
for the past two miserable days, but
now feel ! must speak to some one or
go mad!"
She smites her hands together, and,
sinking into chair, looks as if she is
going to faint. Florence, greatly
alarmed, rises from her chair, and,
running to her, places her arm round
her as though to support her. But Do
ra repulses her almost roughly and
motions her away.
DO not touch mel" she cries hoarse-
". do not come near me; you, of al
people. should be the last to come to
my assistance! Besides, I am not here
To talk about myself. but of him. Flor
ence, have you any SuSpicion|
Dora leans forward and looks scrutin-
| izingly at her cousin, as though fearing,
vet hoping to get an answer III the
Affirmative. But Florence shakes her
head.
IL have no suspicion-none," she an
swers sadly. III had should not act
upon it. whatever il might cost me?"
would you asks Dora eagerly, as
| though impressed by her companions
| whatever it might cost your"
Her manner is 50 strange that Flor
ence pauses before replying.
"YcS," she says at last. mo earthly
| consideration should keep me from us
ing any knowledge might by accident
| or otherwise become possessed of to
| lay bare this mystery. Dora" she cries
| suddenly, IF you know anything, l i'm
| pl0re, | entreat you to say So"
| what should | know" responds
| the widow, rcc0iiing.
| You loved him too" says Florence
| pteOusly, now more than ever con-
| WINGED that Dora is keeping something
love, disclose anything you may know
| about this awful matter"
Il dare not speak openly" replies the
| widow, growing even a shade pdler,
| because my sus, li"ign is OK the barest
| character, and may be altogether
| wrong. Yet there are moments when
| some hidden instinct within my breast
whispers to me that | am on the right
| track
IF So" murmurs Florence, falling
| upon her knees before her, do not hes
| itatc; follow up this instructive feeling,
| and who knows but something may
| come Of It'll Dora, do not delay. Soon,
| SOOn-if not already-it may be too
| late. Alas" she cries, bursting into
| bitter tears, what do | say? IL it not
too late even now? What hope can
there be after six long days, ana no
tidingsp
Il will do what I can, | am resolved"
| declares Dora, rising abruptly to her
feet. IF too late to do any good, it
may not be too late to wiring the truth
from him, and bring the murderer to
! Justice"
From him? From whom - what
murderer eXclaims Florence, in
voice of horror. Dora, what are you
saying"
Never mind. Let me go now; and
to-night-this evening let me come to
you here again, and tell you the result
| of what | am now about to do"
She quits the room as silently as she
| entered it, and Florence, sinking back
III her chair, gives herself up to the eX-
cltement and amazement that are over
towering her. There is something else,
too, i'll her thoughts that is pulling
| and perpleXing her; in all DOra's man
ner there was nothing that would lead
her to think that she loved Sir Adrian;
there was fear, and a desire for re-
venge in 1t, but none of the despair OF
loving woman who had lost the man
to whom she has given her heart.
Florence is still bordering these
things, while Dora, going swiftly down
stairs, turns into the side hall, glanc-
| ing into library and rooms as she goes
along, plsnly III search of something
or some one.
At last her search is successful; In q
small room she finds Arthur Dvnecourt
| apparently reading, as he sits in
| large armchair, with his eyes fixed in
tently upon the book in his hand. See
ing her, he closes the volume, and,
throwing it from him, says carelessly:
"Pshaw - what contemplate trash
they write nowadaysl"
How can you sit here calmly read
ing" eYclaims Dora vehemently,
when we are all so distressed in mind,
| But forgot'-with n meaning glancs
| you gain by his death; We do not"
mo Won lose hp rntpYts rppllv
Though, after all, even had things
| been different, | can't say I think you
! had much chance at any time"
He smiles insolently at her as he says
this. But she pays no heed either to
his words or his smile. Her whole soul
seems wrapped i'll one thought, and at
last she gives expression to it.
What have You done with him?" she
breaks forth, advancing toward him,
as though to compel him to give her an
answer TO the question that has been
torturing her for days past.
with whomfs he asks coldly. Yet
there is forbidding CLEAN in his eyes
that should have warned her to for
bear.
With Sir Adran-with your riral,
with the man you hate" she cries, her
breath coming in little Trepressible
gasps. "Dynecourt, | adjure you to
SPSah tLlc u lli' anu Say Whab mas be-
come OF him."
You rave he says calmly, lifting
his eyebrows just shade, as though In
pity FOR her foolish excitement. Il con-
fess the man wcs no favorite Of mine,
and that | oan not help being glad of
this chance that has presented itself in
his extraordinary disappearance Of my
inheriting his place and title; but real
ly, my dear creature, | know as little Of
what has become of him, as-I pre-
Sumc-you do YOURSELF
You lieI" cries Dora, losing all con-
troll over herself. You have murder
ed him, 10 get him out of your path.
His death lies at your door,
She points her finger at him as
though in condemnation rs she utterS
these words, but still he does not finch.
They will take you for Bedlamite,"
he says, with 4 sneering laugh. IL you
conduct yourself like this. Where are
your proofs that am the cold-bleoded
rufian You think meT
II have nOne"-ia a deSpairing tone.
but l shall make il the business OF my
life to find Them
You had better devote your time TO
some other purpose" he eNclaims saw
ageiy, laying his hand upon her wrist
with an amount OF force that leaves
rel mark upon tho delicate flesh.
Do YOU hear mep You must be mad to
go on like this to me. | know nothing
OF Adrian, but | know good deal OF
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